where do you cross over your ht setup

Like all things in life ,listen to all and do what makes sense.Audio mags have a wealth of info.Try not to get all caught up in the tech race for new gear.The guide to hometheater has great articles.Learning involves first putting a lock on your wallet and start reading all you can.This forum is a perfect example.Good luck gonners

First I must say everything im writing here assumes one has proper amplification for each channel in his system. It also assumes sustained SPL levels no greater than what each channel is capable of.

Crossing over at standards designed around large cinema's seating 100's of people simply has no place in HT. Crossing over at 80hz or higher when you have speakers capable of useful output much lower than this is a complete waste. You lose any stereo or surround low bass imaging mixed into the soundtrack and likely overwork your subwoofer. Forget all the THX/Dolby mumbo jumbo right now. Dont let people tell you that you low bass is non-directional. Its complete nonsense for many reasons. Sure, perhaps a 20hz note is near impossible to localize but 30hz and up this isn't completely true. Without getting into a huge discussion regarding low bass I will just offer some advice based on my experience.

Maximize the low bass output of each of your HT channels. This requires a processor that was not lazily designed around cinema standards and allows low enough settings for even full range loudspeakers. In my case I crossover my mains at 25hz, my center at 35hz, and my surrounds at 40hz. This allows each channel to operate to its potential while maintaining the channel integrity of the mix. This also protects the speakers with the processors built in high-slope crossovers by relieving them from bass duties they aren't equipped to handle.

My ideal system is 5 - 7 honest full range channels plus a dedicated LFE sub (or two) in a room designed around the system. This is simply not practical. Another way would be to integrate subwoofers into each channel and run full range. This requires a setup method like Vandersteen recommends with filters to roll off the signal before it gets to the amp (protects the speakers) and a subwoofer that compensates precisely for the filter. Although the results can be excellent, having 6 subwoofers and the wiring/filters needed for this would present spaghetti nightmares in my room.

Where does that leave us? Leaves me smiling. Leaves some of you wishing you had a processor that allows you to maximize the low bass potential of each your HT channels.

Vedric

Crossing over at 80hz in all ch. allows you to EQ one sub and avoid running EQ's in the mains.I have heard many people try the full range game and the only time it worked was in a room close to 20feet by thirty feet with a twelve foot ceiling.With that said,full range for two ch.and everything to the sub in HT.

Forget all the THX/Dolby mumbo jumbo right now?
Crossing over at all those levels would be a pain in the...
Tim

If you need to EQ a single sub because of room response or poor speaker selection and placement then go for it. You totally destroy the DD or DTS mix in the process.

I can understand crossing over surrounds at 80 - 120 if the surrounds aren't designed for near or on wall operation. In that case the bloated bass could be a problem. I guess the same applies with poor placement and selection for mains. If you cant let the speakers breath like they need to for linear response then cut em off!

Flemke, setting the crossover settings in a HT processor is hard for you? Sorry to hear that. The interface on my processor is quite simple.

I will not submit to specs based on compression horns surrounding a 200 seat cinema where loudness and shock value are the primary criteria. 80 - 120 hz works for cheap cinema speakers. 80 - 120 hz works for the small HT in a box type systems. It's nothing more than an "easy way out" if placement options are limited, or if one doesnt wish to take the time to properly select and setup speakers for the room.

My HT mains are also my 2ch. mains. They are flat to 30hz (IRR) and tail down 9db at 20hz. Why on earth would I want to cut them off at 80hz??? This is crazy THX cinema mumbo jumbo. Hook line and sinker..